Sonny Rollins Dies at 95

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

The way some musicians play, you think they'll never die. Theodore "Sonny" Rollins was such a man: A saxophonist revered for his huge tone and seemingly inexhaustible improvisations. Rollins died Monday afternoon at his Woodstock, N.Y. home at the age of 95. Rollins was a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, a recipient of a Kennedy Center honor and a recipient of the National Medal of the Arts. And he was the very incarnation of a modern jazz musician. His art was his life. "All these prizes are nice, I appreciate them," he told NPR in 2007. "I don't go crazy about them -- you have to do your work whether you're recognized or not. The real deal is doing it the best you can do it and that's it. That's its own reward."

Posted by Dbt2 at 06:09 PM | 2 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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Blessed to see him at Monterey and N.O. Jazz Fests.
Hard to argue with a guy that just wanted to keep getting better at his instrument.
I feel a Jazz binge coming.

#1 | Posted by morris at 2026-05-29 05:23 AM | Reply

I'm envious of you.

And it's here.

Check out Jeff Parker, a fantastic atmospheric guitarist. Popular among the younger crowd who is discovering jazz. Played with Tortoise.

I've found a YT channel that livestreams free jazz from a spot in Brooklyn -- a variety of instruments each time, and most of the players look like they're in their 20s.

Going to see Ron Carter et al. at Detroit Jazz Festival Labor Day. I am pumped. Young crowd there last year from my son's report. World's biggest free jazz festival.

AI: The 2026 Detroit Jazz Festival takes place from September 4-7, 2026, in downtown Detroit. The free, outdoor event features headliners and performances from jazz luminaries, including Artist-in-Residence Joe Lovano, Ron Carter, Bob James, Ravi Coltrane, Artemis, and Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets.

Headliners & Key Performers
Artist-in-Residence: Joe Lovano (spearheading the "Coltrane 100" celebration and performing in multiple configurations like Sound Prints with Dave Douglas and his Paramount Quartet).Legendary Acts: Ron Carter & Foursight, Bob James, and the Ravi Coltrane Quartet (Centennial Celebration).

Ensembles & Groups: Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets (celebrating Weather Report), Artemis, Take 6, and the Miles Electric Band.

Special Guests & Features: Cindy Blackman Santana, the Vijay Iyer Trio, and the Django Festival Allstars.

#2 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2026-05-29 08:34 AM | Reply